George Russell, a driver for the Mercedes Formula 1 team, believes there was an error in the cooling system of his 2024 car during the Bahrain Grand Prix. Despite starting in third position, Russell was unable to maintain his position and ended up behind the two Ferrari drivers due to engine overheating issues. This setback cost him valuable time and prevented him from showing the true potential of the car. Russell agrees with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff that they need to analyze and understand what went wrong with the car’s design. According to Russell, the bodywork was too tight and there was not enough space for proper cooling. This small flaw had a significant impact on his performance. However, Russell remains confident that this issue can be resolved before the next race in Saudi Arabia.
Russell also argues that the early laps showed a promising indication of his potential, although he believes that competing with Ferrari for a podium spot was not realistic.
When asked about the confidence Mercedes could gain from their strong start, Russell replied: “I believe we had some very impressive early laps. Honestly, it’s quite challenging to determine where our true pace would have put us today, because we had to reduce engine power and employ additional fuel-saving techniques, which had an impact on the tires, resulting in a downward spiral. I believe reaching the podium would have been a bit beyond our reach, but we could certainly have fought better.”
Russell was cautious that his impressive qualifying performance could have compromised his race, while Hamilton revealed that he had set up his car for longer stints on track. However, Russell argues that he was under the impression that his car was more suited to optimizing race performance compared to his teammate, who finished 3.6 seconds behind.
“Many people have made this claim, but honestly, I don’t know the main differences, because, as far as I know, the cars were quite similar,” he said. “And, as I mentioned, I didn’t pay much attention to his setup. Mine was really more focused on the race than the setup he used. At least, that was the case on Friday. However, conditions changed today. I believe it’s a critical aspect for everyone. And yes, we need to review everything. But, as I mentioned, our race was largely influenced today by cooling issues.”
Despite the qualifying being a close-fought event, Red Bull’s dominance continued, with Max Verstappen securing a commanding victory with a 22-second lead over his teammate, Sergio Perez. While Russell believes that Verstappen will certainly defend his title, he suspects it is premature to suggest that Red Bull’s advantage is greater than last season.
“Well, at least for Lewis and me, we definitely have a much better car this year. One that I believe we can build on,” he explained. “Red Bull has always been strong here. Just like Ferrari. I would say this track has been a bit challenging for us in recent years. So, I think it’s too early to make a definitive statement, but undoubtedly, Max is the favorite. I don’t believe anyone will challenge him for the championship this year, but I hope there will be some contenders fighting for wins here and there.”
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Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton achieved another impressive victory at the Monaco Grand Prix last Sunday. With an incredible performance, Hamilton once again showed why he is considered one of the greatest drivers in history. The British driver, who currently leads the world championship, dominated the race from start to finish, leaving his opponents behind.
Hamilton started on pole position and maintained the lead throughout the race. Even under constant pressure from Max Verstappen, the Mercedes driver managed to control the race with mastery. Verstappen did get close at times, but Hamilton always had an answer up his sleeve.
With this victory, Hamilton extends his lead in the championship and gets closer to the seventh world title. The 38-year-old driver has been unbeatable this season and seems determined to break all records.
In addition to Hamilton’s victory, the Monaco Grand Prix was also marked by some incidents. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz had issues with his car and had to retire from the race. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez had a collision with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, resulting in damage for both drivers.
On the podium, besides Hamilton in first place, Verstappen secured second place and Valtteri Bottas, also from Mercedes, finished third. The drivers celebrated their placements and are already focused on the next race, which will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The next stage of the championship promises to be exciting, with Hamilton and Verstappen battling for the lead. Formula 1 fans are eager to see who will emerge victorious from this epic battle. Will Hamilton be able to maintain his winning streak, or will Verstappen finally overcome him? Only time will tell.
